Post #807955 by TikiSOX on Tue, Feb 14, 2023 6:34 AM

OK, so I'm about a decade late to this conversation but was wondering if anything ever came about it? I can't access the original photo that was shown, but if that last photo is the one originally posted, I'm pretty certain that lamp comes from one of Monte Proser's Beachcomber restaurants. Elizabeth Short, the "Black Dahlia" comes from Medford, Massachusetts, my wife's home town. She spent a short period of time in Miami, Florida, arriving there on August 17, 1942, with a Matt Gordon. My "guess" is this photo was taken either at Monte Proser's Beachcomber in Boston, where's she's from, or Miami. I would love to learn more. Sadly, it seems Tiki Central is about as dead as this case these days so hopefully it will get a new spark of interest going.

On another note regarding PRE-"TIKI" connections to Elizabeth Short... When she arrived in California, she became acquainted with a 15 year old girl who was posing as a 20 something year old) Lynn Martin, while living at the Hawthorne Hotel. Among a few of the jobs she apparently had, she worked as a waitress at Tabu of Hollywood.

According to the website Theblackdahliainhollywood.com: "The Burbank police got their man when they arrested Duke Wellington for writing bad checks. However, the LAPD was more interested in any connection he might have with Elizabeth Short. They were also interested in his relationship with 15 year old Lynn Martin. The LAPD  Homicide Bureau dispatched Det. Harry Fremont and Det. Sgt. William Cummings to Burbank to interview Wellington.

“I first met Miss Martin at the Club Tabu on Sunset Strip in November, about the 15th to 20th, I think.”

“I have seen her off and on since that time, the last on Jan. 21.”"

I'm still trying to find the original primary source for that. I'll be doing some more digging in the days ahead for more info.

Here is a photo of a Monte Proser Beachcomber's in Boston showing the same lamp, as well as a lamp in two other people's collections for reference, and a Tabu of Hollywood ashtray I was lucky enough to put in my collection.

Sorry for the multiple edits. I ended up adding more stuff. Greg

[ Edited by TikiSOX on 2023-02-14 11:52:26 ]

[ Edited by TikiSOX on 2023-02-14 12:03:00 ]

[ Edited by TikiSOX on 2023-02-14 12:16:30 ]

[ Edited by TikiSOX on 2023-02-14 12:17:34 ]